When people with disabilities are being abused, neglected, or exploited, DRA can help. Our abuse, neglect and exploitation team:
- Investigates allegations of abuse, neglect and exploitation in both public and private settings;
- Monitors public and private facilities, such as group homes, workshops, nursing homes, psychiatric residential treatment facilities (PRTF), and mental health facilities, to ensure protection of the individuals’ rights;
- Ensure representative payees of Social Security beneficiaries are meeting their federal obligations; and
- Ensure incarcerated individuals with serious mental illness will receive adequate and appropriate mental health services.
What is abuse, neglect, and exploitation?
Abuse
Abuse is any willful action by a caretaker or another person that results in injury or harm. Types of abuse include, but are not limited to:
- Physical abuse (hitting, kicking, pushing, pinching, intentionally burning, force feeding, excessive force during restraint);
- Verbal abuse (yelling, swearing at or demeaning a person, or threatening to withhold food, care, or activities);
- Sexual abuse (unwanted or inappropriate touching, coercion to perform sex acts, being forced to observe or watch sex acts or pornography).
Neglect
Neglect is failure or refusal on the part of a caretaker to:
- Prevent the abuse of a child when a person has reasonable cause to know a child is being abused;
- Provide necessary food, clothing and shelter to a child in their care;
- Provide appropriate education to a child in their care;
- Provide for the child’s care and maintenance, proper or necessary support, or medical, surgical, or other necessary care;
- Provide appropriate supervision to ensure the safety of the child.
Exploitation
Exploitation is the act of a caretaker taking advantage of a person. Examples of exploitation include:
- Using a person’s belongings without permission;
- Using a person’s money for themselves (“borrowing”);
- Knowingly taking advantage of a person for money or other items.